The optometrist recommended seamless bifocals. I have a very painful nerve condition in my face (atypical trigeminal neuralgia), so this is what I need with glasses: the lightest weight frames possible- known as ultra light- with the lightest weight lenses possible and automatically darkening lenses so I don’t need the weight of sunglasses. The cheapest frames brought the total to $250 on the site the insurance worked with.

The frames are $20 on the cheap site. Everything else in the cost is the lenses.

As for why I have to buy them online- I don’t want anyone touching my face unless it’s absolutely necessary. The exam was painful enough.

American for-profit healthcare is fucking awesome.

      • VaalaVasaVarde@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        4·
        3 months ago

        I would say $250 is fairly cheap, in Scandinavia you can easily pay $1000+ for special lenses.

        For me the cheapest with okay quality costs $500 for a deal with two pairs from SpecSavers.

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
          22·
          3 months ago

          My spouse is from a European nation with high taxes. It’s not all roses there. There are pros and cons to each system.

          Cool. I’m thousands of dollars in medical debt. The ‘cons’ I always hear are the long wait times. I’ve had to wait months to get procedures done here in the U.S.

            • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
              11·
              3 months ago

              You sure don’t in Canada.

              And yes, my case is very medically necessary. Without going into details because plenty of people have heard them way too many times, I’m close to one year without eating any solid foods.

              That is on top of the neuralgia, which is mostly dealt with, but still requires me to see a neurologist. She can only see me twice a year. She’s also the only one in town.

              Oh, and we have supposedly good insurance.